4 Unit 4 Customs Reforms in Russia and Abroad

4.1 Pre-Text Assignments

4.1.1 Read the following verbs and guess their meaning:

submit dedicate conduct interprete implement

upgrade

allow reject ease require facilitate

confront

4.1.2 Read the following words and give their initial forms:

straightforward official

non- dutiable pressure

authority

paperwork

relatively

clearance review

upgrade

competency

declaration shipment

simplify

investment

4.1.3 Match the words and their definitions (one item has been done for

you):

1) reject

2) clearance

3) competency

4) recognize

5) urgent

6) extend

a) very important and needing to be

dealt with quickly or first

b) to accept as being lawful or real

c) possessing knowledge or skillful

d) to make longer or greater

e) the act or result of clearing

f) to refuse to accept

4.1.4 Study the following vocabulary:

1) to facilitate –облегчить

2) trade - торговля

3) to review- пересмотреть, проанализировать

4) (non)-dutiable- (не)облагаемый таможенной пошлиной

5) to register- включить, упомянуть

6) bottom – низкий

7) prevalence- преобладание

8) to rate- оценить, дать оценку

9) without a doubt – без сомнения

10) to submit – подать, заполнить декларацию

11) revenue – доход, сбор

12) to lower – снизить

13) to reduce - уменьшить

14) multinationals –международные корпорации

15) to confront with –столкнуться с чем-либо/кем-либо

16) emergency-срочность

17) lack – нехватка

18) sample- образец

19) spare parts-детали, комплектующие

20) consignment-товар

21) shipment-партия товара, груз

22) border post- таможенный пост

23) lengthy – длинный, долгий

24) to treat – рассматривать

25) extra – дополнительный

4.2 Read the following analytical article taken from “Transition”

bulletin written by Peter Davics, translate it using the dictionary and answer

the questions below

Text A

Customs Reforms is Urgent in Russia

With the recent changes in Central and Eastern Europe one can’t but agree

that there is a special need in a reform of customs laws across those countries to

make it easier for major investors to trade effectively with (and invest in) the

region. Without a doubt, one country where reform is most urgently needed is

Russia.

When we asked major multinationals which countries in Central and Eastern

Europe and the CIS the most straightforward customs procedures, Russia didn’t

even register. In fact, Russian import procedures were given bottom marks, when it

came to the volume of paper work needed, the speed of processing, and the

prevalence of corruption, although competency of Russian officials was rated

relatively high.

What are the roots of the customs problem in Russia? It cannot be easy for the

State Customs Service to use customs to facilitate trade and foreign investment,

while it is also under pressure from the federal government to increase annual

customs receipts of more than $10 billion. Lowering import tariffs would raise

customs revenue (by increasing imports) and reduce corruption. But in the current

economic climate Western investors have been confronted with an extra 3%

emergency import duty.

There is a real lack of understanding about business needs, and a reluctance to

meet major foreign investors halfway when it comes to import rules and

regulations. Once declarations are submitted, customs officers often reject them in

order to dictate a different tariff that allows them to maximize revenue. Every

declaration must be processed through a lengthy procedure of checks and physical

inspections. The way rules are interpreted can vary between different border posts,

and even between different customs inspectors.

What is the solution? The situation cannot be changed overnight. The Russian

authorities have appeared willing to review the customs code. First of all, the

should be officially recognized the concept of “air express”: by their very nature,

express shipments of such items as bank documents, computer disks with

information, medical samples, or spare parts required for the urgent repair of

machinery should be treated differently from, say, a freight shipment of several

hundred cars. Consequently, four simplified customs categories should be

introduced for express shipments: documents, low-value non-dutiable

consignments, low-value dutiable consignments, high-value consignments. The

first three categories should be given “fast track” clearance on the day of arrival.

The high-value category would obviously need extra documentation, but also could

be cleared quickly if all VAT and customs duties have been guaranteed.

There is a need to upgrade the resources available to the customs authorities,

to extend the use of electronic clearance systems and exchange of information. A

liberalization of the customs regime will be an important step in the right direction.

(2500 symbols)

4.2.1 Answer the following questions:

1) Why were Russian import procedures given bottom marks by western

financial analysts?

2) What are the roots of the customs problem in Russia?

3) What is “air express”? Has Russian Customs Service officially recognized

this concept yet?

4) How are rules and procedures interpreted among different customs officials

in Russia?

5) What do we understand under “fast track” clearance?

6) Please list all the recommendations made by western analysts for the

Russian Customs code review.

7) What four simplified customs categories should be introduced for express

shipments?